The Golden Eagles worked in full pads at the Joe P. Park Practice Facility.

April 2, 2014

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team took the practice field for the eighth of 15 scheduled practices this spring at the Joe P. Park Practice Facility on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Eagles continue to work on the things that head coach Todd Monken has stressed throughout the spring, including consistency.

"We have a lot of young guys with talent," Monken stated. "We just need them to understand how critical every play is; what it takes to play at a high level; and what the team counts on from every player out here."

Monken discussed the performance of both the offensive and defensive line at the conclusion of practice. He noted that several players were taking a lot of reps on the defensive line, benefiting the younger players at the position. The second-year coach also noted the importance of continuity between the offensive line and finding the right mix of players.

"We have a lot of bodies, but we have to be more consistent," said Monken of the offensive line. "You can make a mistake out at the receiver position and it probably isn't glaring. You can make a mistake at defensive end and you won't get exposed. If you your five guys [up front] aren't working together, you get exposed in a hurry."

"There have been a lot of young defensive linemen - Draper Riley, Rod Crayton, Chris Robinson, Jerry McCorvey - need all the reps they can get to learn how to play fast and explosive," Monken commented.

The Golden Eagles return to the practice field Friday afternoon. The workout is open to the public.